The Sign of the Cross

[iProfess]

Pax CAF members!!

I had seen some old videos (usually pre-VII) of people making the sign of the cross and they would do the normal head, stomach, left shoulder - right shoulder cross then they would move their hand to strike the middle of their breast after making the sign.
I was wondering if anyone knows or is familiar with anything behind this - like the tradition, maybe where it came from, or just ANYTHING.

Any insight would be great!

Sincerely in Christ through Mary,
iProfess

 

[po18guy]

Pax CAF members!!

I had seen some old videos (usually pre-VII) of people making the sign of the cross and they would do the normal head, stomach, left shoulder - right shoulder cross then they would move their hand to strike the middle of their breast after making the sign.
I was wondering if anyone knows or is familiar with anything behind this - like the tradition, maybe where it came from, or just ANYTHING.

Any insight would be great!

Sincerely in Christ through Mary,
iProfess

It “strikes” me as an emulation of the tax collector in the Temple in Jerusalem saying, “Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.” (Luke 18:13) As well, we strike our breast during the act of contrition.

 

[mymamamary]

I will do it sometimes. It was just the way I was taught. I never knew the significance about touching the middle of my chest though, (I knew the idea behind the Sign of the CROSS though). Thank You,

 

[SeektheTruth164]

This is something I started doing a couple years back (I make the sign of the cross, kiss my thumb, and then beat my breast), but I never knew that this was how it used to be. The reason why I started doing these things was to realize that the sign of the cross is much more than we take it to be. It is the sign of our salvation and life. So I kiss my thumb, that which has made the sign, so that I recognize that this is more than a motion, this is a promise of my life in Christ if I follow what the sign of the cross teaches. I beat my breast to remember that I share in the sin of the human race, a cause of the necessity of the cross. So I try to recognize the Glory given in the cross, but also the sorrow every time I cross myself.